EXPONENTIAL AND

LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS

Prepared by:
Mr. Reymund Gonowon and Dr. Gian Paolo Bernardo
Image from:
www.statista.com
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Exponential Functions

The exponential function f(x) with base b is defined by

f(x) = abx-h + k
where b > 0, b  1, and x is any real number.
Exponential Functions

Consider the exponential function y = 2

x

x y

0 1
1 2
2 4
-1 ½
-2 ¼
Exponential Functions

The exponential function f(x) with base b is defined by

f(x) = abx-h + k
where b > 0, b  1, and x is any real number.
Exponential Functions

First let’s change the base b to positive values more than 1.

The functions are increasing.

 Exponential Functions

Next, observe what happens when b assumes a value such that 0<b<1.

The functions are decreasing.

Exponential Functions

f(x) = ab x-h +k
y = a • b x , where a  0, b  0 and b  1

𝑏>1 0<𝑏<1
To see what impact ‘a’ has on our graph we will fix the value of ‘b’ at 3.

The function increases/decreases faster according to the coefficient a.

Refer to the graphs below and see the effect of h and k.

𝑥 𝑥
1 1
𝑦= 𝑦= −2
2 2

The function 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑏 𝑥
moves up when 𝑘 > 0,
down when 𝑘 < 0.

𝑥
1
𝑦= +3
2

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Refer to the graphs below and see the effect of h and k.

𝑥 𝑥−2
1 1
𝑦= 𝑦=
2 2
The function 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑏 𝑥
moves to to the left when
ℎ > 0, to the right when
ℎ < 0.
𝑥+3
1
𝑦=
2

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• Our general exponential form is f(x) = abx-h + k
– When b>1, a steep increase in the value of ‘y’ as ‘x’ increases.
– When 0<b<1, a steep decrease in the value of ‘y’ as ‘x’ increases.
– The domain is −∞, ∞ .
– When h = 0 and k = 0,
•The range is 0, ∞ , when 𝑎 > 0; or −∞, 0 , when 𝑎 < 0.
•The y-intercept is (0, a).
•Has Horizontal asymptote at y = 0.
• Uses e ≈2.71828183… as the base
Natural Exponential
• irrationalFunction
number named after the
mathematician Leonhard Euler

• Acts as a speed limit on how fast

continuous growth/decay is
possible

• Natural Exponential Function

f(x) = ex
 What power of 34528
1
is 64
92516 ?
8
4
The answer is 23
−3
2
3

This question is answered by Logarithms.

 What is a logarithm ?

Suppose b > 0 and b ≠ 1, there is a number ‘p’ such that:

logb n = p if and only if b p = n

 Read as:
• ”the logarithm base 2 of 8
23 = 8 log2 8 = 3
is equal to 3”
1 1
−2
rite 10 = log
in log arithmic
10 =−
form. 2 • ”the logarithm base 10 of
100 100 1
is equal to -2”
100

𝑒 3 ≈ 20.0855 ln 20.0855 ≈ 3 • ”the natural logarithm of

20.0855 is approximately
3”
Write log3 81 = 4 in exp onential form
3 = 81
4

1 1
Write log2 = − 3 in exp onential2− 3form.
=
8 8

ln 𝑥 = 3 𝑒3 = 𝑥
1
ln 𝑥 − 3 = −2 2
=𝑥−3
𝑒
Logarithmic Functions

For x  0 and 0  b < 1 and b > 1

y = logb x if and only if x = b y.

The function given by

f(x) = logb x

is called the logarithmic function with base b.

Every logarithmic function has a corresponding exponential form.

 Logarithmic Functions

A logarithmic function is the inverse function of an exponential function.

f (x) = log2 x
The graph of f (x) is the reflection of the exponential function
with respect to the line y = x.
y y = 2x y=x
x 2x horizontal
–2 1 y = log2 x
4 asymptote y = 0
1
–1 2 x-intercept
x
0 1 (1, 0)
1 2
2 4 vertical asymptote
3 8 x=0
Logarithmic Functions

Graph of the common logarithm function f(x) = log x.

x 1 1 1 2 4 10
100 10
f(x) = log x –2 –1 0 0.301 0.602 1

y
f(x) = log x

5
x
x=0 (0, 1) x-intercept
vertical
asymptote
–5

The common logarithm function f(x) = log x uses the base 10.
Logarithmic Functions

𝑥−ℎ
𝑦−𝑘
𝑦 = 𝑎𝑏 +𝑘 invert 𝑥 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 +ℎ
𝑎

Let’s look at the characteristics of the graphs of exponentials

then and see what this tells us about the graphs of their
inverse functions which are logarithms.
Logarithmic Functions

𝑦 = 32𝑥+1 𝑦 = 4−𝑥 − 3 𝑦 = −2𝑥−3 − 1

1 𝑦 = log 2 −𝑥 − 1 + 3
𝑦 = log 3 𝑥 − 1 𝑦 = − log 4 𝑥 + 3
2

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 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎𝑏 𝑥−ℎ + 𝑘 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎 log 𝑏 𝑥 − ℎ + 𝑘
1. Domain is all real numbers 1. Range is all real numbers

2. Range is positive real numbers when 2. Domain is positive real numbers

a=1, h=k=0. when a=1, h=k=0.
3. No x intercepts when a=1, h=k=0. 3. No y intercepts when a=1, h=k=0.

4. The y intercept is (0,1) when a=1, 4. The x intercept is (1,0) when a=1,
h=k=0. h=k=0.

5. The graph is increasing (b > 1). 5. The graph is increasing (b > 1).
The graph is decreasing (0 < b < 1). The graph is decreasing (0 < b < 1).

6. The x-axis (where y = 0) is a 6. The y-axis (where x = 0) is a

horizontal asymptote. vertical asymptote
Exponential Function0 < b < 1, b > 1 Logarithmic Function b > 1
• Uses e ≈2.71828183… as the
base
Natural Logarithmic
Function
• irrational number named after
the mathematician Leonhard
Euler

• Acts as a speed limit on how

fast continuous growth/decay is
possible

• Natural Logarithmic Function

f(x) = ln x
 REFERENCES
• http://davisclasses.weebly.com/uploads/2/2/5/4/22542542/day_1_notes_-
_graphing_rational_functions_-_keyed.pdf
• https://mcckc.edu/tutoring/docs/br/math/graphing/Graphing_a_Rational_Fu
nction.pdf
• https://www.sctcc.edu/sites/default/files/users/cas/Asymptotes%20and%20Gr
aphing%20Rational%20Functions.pdf
• http://msenux2.redwoods.edu/IntAlgText/chapter7/chapter7.pdf
• http://msenux2.redwoods.edu/IntAlgText/chapter4/section1.pdf
• http://www.kkuniyuk.com/PrecalcBook/Precalc0105to0107.pdf
• https://www.cusd80.com/cms/lib/AZ01001175/Centricity/Domain/2385/4.7%2
0Alg.pdf
• https://wl.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2017/08/Wright-2.7-Piecewise-
SY18.pdf
• https://www.jacksonsd.org/cms/lib/NJ01912744/Centricity/Domain/504/Alg%20
3.7%20BI%20TB.pdf
• https://www.classzone.com/eservices/home/pdf/student/LA202HAD.pdf

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 EXPONENTIAL AND
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS

Prepared by:
Mr. Reymund Gonowon and Dr. Gian Paolo Bernardo